Removal

Transaxle








Removal

All vehicles
1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist.
2. Disconnect the mass air flow (MAF) sensor electrical connector.





3. Disconnect the engine breather from the air cleaner assembly.





4. Remove the 2 air cleaner assembly bracket bolts.





5. Disconnect the brake booster vacuum hose from the air cleaner outlet pipe.





6. Loosen the air cleaner outlet pipe clamp at the throttle body and remove the air cleaner and air cleaner outlet pipe assembly.





7. Remove the battery.
8. Detach the wiring harness retainers from the battery tray.





9. Remove the 2 lower battery tray bracket bolts.





10. Remove the upper battery tray bolt and nut and remove the battery tray and bracket.





11. Remove the upper intake manifold.
12. Disconnect the selector lever cable end from the manual lever.





13. Remove the 3 selector lever cable bracket bolts and position aside the selector lever cable.





14. Remove the starter motor positive terminal cover.





15. Remove the starter terminals from the starter.





16. Disconnect the wiring harness fastener from the starter motor studbolt.





17. Remove the 2 bolts and the starter.





18. If equipped, remove the 2 auxiliary coolant pump bracket nuts and position the auxiliary coolant pump aside.





19. Disconnect the transaxle electrical connector and remove the wiring harness fastener from the main control cover stud.





20. Remove the top 4 torque converter housing bolts.





21. Remove the coolant hoses from the transmission fluid filler tube.





22. Remove the transmission fluid level indicator.





23. Remove the nut, rotate the transmission fluid filler tube counterclockwise 90 degrees and remove the transmission fluid filler tube.





24. Install the special tool on the LH cylinder head.





25. Install the special tools and support the engine.





26. Remove the front wheels.
27. Remove the pushpin fasteners and the RH splash shield.





28. Remove the 3 screws, 5 pushpin fasteners and the front splash shield.





29. Remove the transmission fluid drain plug and allow the transmission fluid to drain.





30. Install the transmission fluid drain plug.
^ Tighten to 9 Nm (80 lb-inch).





31. Remove the 3 power steering tube bracket bolts (1 shown) from the LH side of the subframe and position the power steering tube aside.





32. NOTE: RH side shown, LH side similar. Remove and discard the 2 front halfshaft nuts.





33. NOTE: RH side shown, LH side similar.

Remove and discard the lower control arm ball joint nuts and separate the lower control arms from the knuckles.





34. NOTE: RH side shown, LH side similar.

Using the special tool, separate the halfshafts from the wheel hubs.





35. Remove the 2 RH halfshaft bearing support bracket nuts and the RH halfshaft.





36. Inspect the halfshaft hub for wear or damage and install a new halfshaft, if necessary.
1 Inspect the differential seal surface.
2 Inspect the halfshaft bushing surface. If this surface is damaged, inspect the halfshaft bushing for damage.
3 Inspect the differential side gear splines.





37. Using the special tools, remove the LH halfshaft.





38. Inspect the halfshaft hub for wear or damage and install a new halfshaft, if necessary.
1 Inspect the differential seal surface.
2 Inspect the halfshaft bushing surface. If this surface is damaged, inspect the halfshaft bushing for damage.
3 Inspect the differential side gear splines.





39. Remove the 2 Y-pipe nuts and disconnect the exhaust hanger.
^ Discard the gasket and nuts.





40. Remove the 4 nuts and the Y-pipe assembly.
^ Discard the nuts.





41. Remove and discard the 2 nuts and bolts and position the steering rack aside, using a suitable length of mechanic's wire.





42. Remove and discard the 4 bolts and position the sway bar aside, using a suitable length of mechanic's wire.





43. Remove the 2 bolts from the roll restrictor bracket.





44. Support the subframe using a suitable drivetrain lift.

45. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Remove the subframe bracket-to-body bolts.





46. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Remove the rear subframe bolts and the subframe brackets.





47. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.

Remove the front subframe bolts.





All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles

48. Index-mark the driveshaft, remove and discard the 4 bolts and position the driveshaft aside.





49. Disconnect the RH catalyst monitor electrical connector.





50. Remove the 2 catalytic converter support bracket bolts.





51. Remove the 4 RH catalytic converter nuts and the RH catalytic converter.





52. Remove the 5 bolts and the power transfer unit (PTU) support bracket.





53. NOTE: A new halfshaft seal must be installed anytime the RH halfshaft is removed.

NOTE: The seal deflector will be damaged during removal. Be careful not to damage the cover seal directly behind the seal deflector.

Remove the seal deflector.





54. Using the special tools, remove the halfshaft seal from the PTU.





55. Remove the 5 bolts and the PTU.





All vehicles

56. Remove the 2 fasteners and the inspection cover.





57. Remove and discard the 3 torque converter bolts.





58. Remove the 2 secondary latches from the transmission fluid cooler tubes at the transmission fluid cooler thermal bypass valve.





59. Using the special tool, disconnect the transmission fluid cooler tubes from the transmission fluid cooler thermal bypass valve.





60. Remove the transaxle support insulator through bolt.
1 Remove the flagnut.
2 Using the special tool, release the tension from the through bolt to remove it from the transaxle mount.





61. Lower the transaxle from the mount about 2 inches.
62. Remove the 3 nuts, the bolt and the transaxle support insulator bracket.





63. Using the special tool, support the transaxle.





64. Remove the 7 torque converter housing bolts and remove the transaxle from the vehicle.





65. Remove and discard the 2 transmission fluid cooler tube bolts.





66. Remove the 2 nuts, pull the transmission fluid cooler thermal bypass valve and the transmission fluid cooler tubes straight up and remove the assembly from the transaxle.





67. Inspect the transaxle case to be sure that the transmission fluid cooler tube seals and backing rings were removed with the transmission fluid cooler tubes and are not stuck in the transaxle case. If the transmission fluid cooler tube seals or backing rings are stuck in the transaxle case, remove the seals and backing rings.





68. If the transaxle is to be overhauled or if installing a new or re-manufactured transaxle, carry out transmission fluid cooler backflushing and cleaning.